Phoenix, AZ—As Democratic presidential candidates issue their immigration platforms, hundred of people have been on hunger strike in detention centers across the country, calling for their release and an end to the unjust and inhumane practice of incarcerating immigrants while they fight their deportation cases. While ICE is torturing detainees with forced feeding and sleep deprivation, candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have failed to do the right thing and support the hunger strikers by advocating for their demands. In addition, ICE continues to collaborate with notorious Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, with ICE agents stationed inside his jails and setting immigrant up for deportation.

Governor Martin O’Malley says, “There is a cost of Congress’ failure to responsibly fix our inhumane immigration system that is ripping apart families. We cannot ignore the voices of New Americans who have not been given due process and who are now resorting to hunger strikes in order to be heard. New Americans represent the values that this country was founded on, and as President, I will stop unjust detention and fix this system for good.”

Francisca of Puente says, “We need candidates to match the leadership shown by hunger strikers in detention to address the ongoing crisis of detention and deportation that our community faces. Immigrant detention constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and needs to be completely dismantled. We applaud Governor O’Malley’s endorsement of the community demand to end all detention.”

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The Puente Human Rights Movement is a grassroots migrant justice organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. We develop, educate, and empower migrant communities to protect and defend our families and ourselves.